Thumb index



F. '15. GQRIN THUMB INDEX Feb. 15, 1927.

2 ASheets-Sheet l Filed May 17, 1923 Patented Feb. 15, 1927. tritati? S FREDERCK E. GORIN, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ALSSGNOR 'OF ONE-HALF TO HORTON S. EMERSON, OF KING COUNTY,l VASHl..'l\Tt`JTO.`L\T.4

THUIMB INDEX.

Application led May 17,

This invention relates to improvements in book binding, and moreV especially ,to the binding togetherl of independent thumb Vindexed leaves which are insertable between the leaves of a main book, such for example, as a telephone directory or the like, wherein the utmost cheapness of book construction is necessary and the addition. of a thumb index is not ordinarily possible in the original book on account ot the added expense, but wherein the provision ot-some form ot thumb index is highly desirable to the user ot such books or directories. In a cut-in form of thumb index, involving a series of thumb recesses cut into the outer edges o1" the lleaves ot the book, toughness of the paper is a necessary requirement because` the pages directly beneath the thumb recesses cbviate the necessity of 'lifting or handling a single sheet at a time when turning to a particular alphabetical section of the book. In a Vform of overlapping' or stepped thumb index, toughness ofthe paper is necessary because in that case the projecting edges ot the sheets are often handled singly and it the paper be too light or thin, the sheets are apt to tear.

My. present invention contemplates the use of an overlapping or stepped form ot thumb index rather than the recessed form, although either form of index could be constructed and used in accordance with the general scope andspirit ofthe invention.

. `In the drawings Figure l is a plan view illustrating the invention showing the index in applied position in a complete book, parts being broken out.

`Figure 2 is a plan of a portion of the improved index. y Y

Figure 3 is a top edge view of the same. Figure 4 is a side edge view of the same. Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure l.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig-- ure l. Y

Figure 7 is a sectional View of a modified detail. y o Y Figure 8 is a plan of a modification; Figure 9 is a plan of the modied index. 'Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral l indicates the cover of an ordinary book, such as a telephone directory; 2 indicates the leaves of the book; 3 the usual wire staples which was. serial No. 639,650.

bind together the inner edges of the leaves; 4 the index leaves which have tabs or extensions 5` overlapping or stepped in the usual manner of thumb indexes. The index leaves are cut out at their inner or bound edges,V as indicated at 6, leaving the legs or extensions 7 at each end of the index leaves. The legs are perfo-rated at 8 to receive a rivet or screw 9 which serves to tightly bind together the extremities of the legs 7 l0 indicates a master sheet which is preferably located at about the center ot the group of index leaves, it` being understood that the master sheet is also perforated to receive the rivet 9, so that all of the thumb index leaves and the master sheet are securely bound together by rivets, and the inner'v edgesl ll ofthe index` leaves proper are alwaysheld in spaced relation with-respect ot the inner edge -12 ot the master sheet. -The index leaves, together with the' master sheet therefore forms a bound book' in themselves separate and distinct from the main book or directory. As above indicated, it is necessary that the index leaves be sutiiciently tough and strong to withstand the f usual thumbing or handling of the tabs 5. It paper sufficiently thick to mee-t theseV requirements be used, the combined'thickness of the index leaves when bound together' would approximate the combined thickness oit the leaves of the main book itself: for example, a telephone directory of about the usual construction having SQOpages, is tive-eighths Otan inch thick, and a group vof index leaves, one for ea-cli letter of the alphabet, of S-ply cardboard, each about 15/1000 thick, is 7/l6 thickness. It, therefore, the group of index leaves of, S-ply stock were laid in between the leaves of the main book with the inner edges of the index leaves thrust snugly against the an extent that the main book would be too L cumbersome and unwieldy. Furthermore,

the presence of a' group of index leaves would render the action of the leaves of the main book so stitl1 and unyielding that the book could not be sufficiently opened to exose the reading matter upon any one ot the eaves of the main book. This would be true whether the relatively thick index leaves were originally bound to the vmain bookor whether they were removably placed between,

ing of the leaves of the main book about the center represented by their bound edges,

without breaking the index leaves.

In my Vimproved construction, this stiffness of the leaves at or near their common pivot or turning l'ne is diminished to such `an extenty that the leaves of the book can be easily turned about 'their common center andthe index leaves will turn with them about the center represented by the rivets 9, because the Vlegs 7V arev relatively pliable, which would not be soif it were not for the cut-out portions 1(7).' The master sheet is, of course, thrust firmly in between the leaves of the main book and snugly up against the bindfng staples 3, which causes the master sheet to be gripped firmly along its inner edge, but does not appreciably increase the thickness of the main book at or lnear its bound edge. Neither does the presence of the master sheet appreciably strainA the bind ing staples. The master sheet being thus held invise-like action between the leaves oftheman book andthe indexleaves all being joinedV to the master rsheet by the rivets 9, displacement of any ofthe index leaves with respect to the main 'book is prevented. Y Y y It will be noted that the pivotal center for the index leaves represented by the rivetsV 9 is substantially in alignment with the Ypivotal or bound center of the leaves of the main book. It will, also, kbe noted that while the pivotal center of the indexv leaves Visabout coincident Vwith the similar center f of the leaves of the book, yet these two pivotal centers yare separateV 4and distinct from each other and that the pivotal centers of the index leaves are `outside the boundaries `of the leaves of themain book. The index leavesiare quickly insertibl'e in place between the leaves of the main bookand as quickly removableV therefrom. To insert the set of index leaves, I remove one of the screws 9 and loosen the other screw sutliciently to allow the index leaves to freely move in a pivotal action around it. I then -lay the'group of index leaves in the position as shown in Fig. 1l, the upper or lowerhook again into place in the book. I then turn the leaves of the main book to the next letter of the alphabet in the same mannerswing- `ing the next index sheet into place, etc.,

until all the index sheets are inserted, and

so on until the master sheet is reachedp which is swung around in the saine manner and forced firmly in between the leaves of the book, after whch the remaining index leaves are swung into position. V,The screw 9 which was at first loosened, is now tightened up andv the other screw yput into'posin tion and also tightened. The beek can now be roughly handled and vigorously shaken without any displacement of any of the index leaves with respect to the book.

lVhile I have shown the supplemental inf dex leaves as removably insertible between the fixed leaves ofthe book, lt will, ofcourse,

be understood that the index leaves may be permanently bound in the original construction of the book, in which 'case the legs 7 would preferably be in staggered relation, and the binding staples y3 would pass through the legs 7 and on through all the ,90s Y other leaves of the book, as plainlyshown in Fig. 9, in which construction there is a'leg 7 at each extreme end of the initial index sheet A, a leg 7 lspaced away from each end of the sheetB a distance equal to the width of the legs 7 on the sheet A, sheet C having its legs 7 stillV further away from the ends of the sheet a distance equal 'to the combined Vwidth of the legs 7 upon the sheets A and B, etc.;r the result of which would be that the thickness of the bound edges would probably not be increased yby more than three or four thicknesses of anyone of the index leaves. The Vindex leaves are, of course, much heavier and thicker than Vthe othenleaves of the book, because they have to withstand the general abuse of the'rthumb index, and th..s stability of the index leaves must be present in the construction. rlhe principle of the invention, therefore, coversl a supplemental group of rindex leaves, either bound into thefbook originally or insertible thereafter. f V i If desired, means may be provided to assist in holding-'the master sheet l0, and also the index leaves l in place inthe book.`

For example, the inner or projecting edge portion lQ'of the master sheet and the adjacent edge portions ofeacli of the index leaves may be roughened toV provide increased frictional engagement' with the' leaves of the book. .This rougheningmay be inherent, or as indicated at l5 in Fig. 7 may be provided by securing to such edge portions of the master sheet or index leaves, or both, a thin section of' roughened material, as sandpaper. Thus thefrictional grip between the parts is materially in creased.

That I claim is l. The combination with a book, of aV set ot supplemental leaves insertible between the leaves of the book, means for binding the supplemental leaves together, and means carried by the supplemental leaves Aand adapted to be inserted betweenthe bound. leaves ot' a. book to thereby hold the supple-` mental leaves in position in the book, appreciably increasing the thickness ot 'the book along its bound edge when the supplemental leaves are jin place.

2. rl`he combination with a book, ota set of supplemental, relatively thick leaves insertible between the leaves ot the book,

means forbinding the supplemental leaves together, and means carried-by the supplemental leaves and vadapted to be inserted between-the bound leaves .ot the book to thereby hold the supplemental leaves in position in the book, appreciably increasing the thickness of the book alongV its bound .edge when the supplemental leaves are in placei A i The combination with abook, of a set supplemental leaves insertible between the leaves of the book, and means carried by ,the supplemental leaves and adapted to be inserted between the bound leaves ot' the book to thereby hold.. the supplemental leaves in position in the book, increasing the thickness of the book along. its lbound edge when. the supplemental leaves Vare in place.

et. The combination with a main book, of a set of supplemental leaves insertible between the leaves of the main book, means for joining the supplemental leaves fixedly together and means for holding the inner edges ot' the supplemental leaves in spaced relation with respect to the bound edge of the main book. y 1

5. The combination with a book, of a set Y of supplemental leaves insertible between book, and means for holding the supplemental leaves in spaced relation with respect to the bound edge of the book.

7. The combination with a book, of a set of supplemental leaves insertible between the leaves of rthe book, means for joining the supplemental leaves together for pivotal action about a center located beyond the book, which is approximately in alignment with the pivotal center of the leaves of the book, means for holdingthesupplemental leaves in spaced relation with respect to` the bound edge of the book, and means for preventing displacement of the Vsupple mental leaves with respect to the book.

S. The combination with a book', of a set.

ot' supplemental indexed leaves insertible between the leaves of the book, means for joining the -supplemental leaves together tor` l j pivotal action about a center lo-cated lbeyondthe book, which isi-,approximately in align.

ment with the pivotal center ot the leaves et the book but outside and beyond lthe boundaries of theleaves of the book, andmeanstor y Y holding the supplemental leaves in spaced relation wijh rcspectto the kbound edge vOt the book.

Q. The( combination with a book, :of a set or' 4supplementalindexed leaves insertible.

between ythe leaves of vthe book, means `for joining'the supplemental leaves together for pivotal action about a `center located beyond v the book, which is approximately in alignment with the pivotal center ot the leaves ofthe book but outside `and beyond the boundaries ot the leaves of' the book, and.. means including a master sheet for holding the supplemental leaves in vspaced relation l0. The combination with a book, ot a set of supplemental leaves insertibl'e `between the leaves'ot the book, a member adapted to be Vwith respect .to the bound edge of the book,v j

insertedV between the bound leaves of the book for securing the supplemental leaves in place, and means for joining thesupplemental leaves together for pivotal action independent ot the pivot line of the leaves of the main book, and means insertible in the boundedge ofthe book for holding the supplemental leaves against! displacement with respect to the main book.

ll. The combination with a book, of a set otsupplemental leaves insert-ible between the leaves of the book, and means wholly free otV connect-ion with vthe bound edge of the book for joining the edges ot the supplemental leaves together, including legs on v the supplemental leaves which extend beyond the boundaries ofthe book.

l2; The combination with a book, of a set ot .supplemental leaves insertible between the leaves of the book, legs upon the supplemental leaves which extend beyond the boundaries of the book, means for joining the legs together ata point substantially in alignment with the binding ot the book,land a member connected with the supplemental leaves andv f adapted to be frictionallyengaged in the bound edge of the book, said member holding the supplemental leaves in place in the book. j

13. A supplemental series ot index leaves bound together with the edge portion of one ot" such leaves projecting beyond the adjacent edges ot vthe remaining leaves to form a se- Y on such projecting edge portion.

isf

'Y curing means for such series of leaves when -insertedbetween the bound edges or a` complete book.

` 14. A supplemental series o1" leaves bound togetherwith the edge portion of one oi suchleaves projecting beyond the adjacent edges of the remaining Vleaves toform a securing means orsuch series of leaves when inserted between'the bound edges of a com` pletebook, vand means for rendering such `projectingedgerportion rough. A f

15. A supplementalseries. or leaves bound i Vtogether with the'edgeVv portionv of oneroil Vsuchleaves projecting beyond the adjacent;

Vedggesfotl the remaining Vleaves Vtoorm a securing means for such series of leaves when inserted between the Vbound edges ola complete book, and a strip of sandpaper securedl A 16,V A 'supplemental series of leaves bound together with the edge portionV of one o vsuch leaves Yprojecting beyond the adj aeent edges of-the remaining leaves to forni a securing Vmeans forV suoh'series' Vot leaves when inserted between .the bound edges of a com-4 plete book, and a Vstrip of sandpaper secured on suchrprojecting edge portion and on the adjacent edge 'portions of the remaining leaves.k

17 A supplemental series of bound leaves orinsertion' as a unit in a completebook,

one of saidleaves projectingbeyond the ad jacent edges ot' the remamingleaves to form temporary binding connectionbetween euchV supplemental series of leaves and `the'vcom-A ot' the leaves of the .supplemental book providing a temporary binding connection be- ,tv-veen` the `suppleinenta book and ,boundl book. Y V19. A supplementalbound book for-insertionyas a unit in a complete book, yone of theV leaves of the supplemental book'adapted to' engage theV binding of the complete book to temporarilyzseeul'e the supplementalbook in! place. Y Y Y 20. A suppiementa'lV bound book for insertion as a unit in a complete .'book, one of the leaves of. the supplemental bookadapted to engage the binding of. the complete book to temporarily secure the supplemental` book in place, with'the remaining leaves ofthe supplemental book wholly free of the bindin' of the complete book.

ln testimony whereof I ax my signature.

' FREDERICK P. GOllN. 

